Acoustic artist Michael Shynes will make his Grassroots Concerts debut at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 23, at the Live Well Night Club and Coffee Bar in Nisswa for the first show of the 2018 spring season.

After losing his father to an autoimmune disease at age 25, the Little Falls native decided to honor his dad's legacy by chasing the dreams he had put off for so long. At that time he was working at a residential treatment center for teens and playing an occasional show on the weekend.

"It was important work and shaped who I am today in many ways," Shynes said.

Shynes began playing every show he possibly could, and as time went on, he was able to pay off his student loans through concerts with his acoustic guitar.

Shynes would often get noticed as a strong local candidate to open up for national acts as they came through town, and he ended up on a tour with platinum recording artist Howie Day.